Bull terrier’s owner fined £500 for ‘horrific’ attack by animal that left beloved pet dead
A WOMAN has told of her heartbreak after her beloved pet dog Misty, a small Pomeranian-cross, was killed by a Staffordshire bull terrier in Ballymena.
Doris Stewart, from Lettercreeve, was speaking outside Ballymena Magistrates Court yesterday where the owner of bull terrier Thunder was fined £500 after being found guilty of a charge of being the keeper of a dog that fatally injured another animal.
Owner Victoria Beagan (28), whose address was given as Larne Street, Ballymena, was not present in court as she is currently serving a jail sentence for an unrelated matter.
Misty was killed on the town’s Antrim Road on November 4 last year as she was being walked by a friend of Ms Stewart’s.
Beagan had contested the charge, but was found guilty by District Judge Peter King after he read the papers in the case.
A prosecutor said it was an “horrific” attack.
Defence solicitor John McAtamney said the defendant had recently bought the dog and was “unaware of its strength”.
Judge King said pictures of the dead animal underlined his lack of sentencing powers in dealing with such a case. He said it had already been agreed that Thunder would be muzzled.
As well as fining Beagan £500, he ordered her to pay court and professional costs of £134.
Outside court Ms Stewart (56) said: “Misty was my wee soulmate. She was the loveliest, friendliest wee dog and everybody loved her.”